Day 3 - Application to Your Community

Standard - CC.8.5.11-12.CEvaluate various explanations for actions or events and determine which explanation best accords with textual evidence, acknowledging where the text leaves matters uncertain.

Standard - CC.8.5.11-12.GIntegrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.

Standard - CC.8.6.11-12.FConduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Standard - CC.8.6.11-12.HDraw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Standard - 6.1.12.BEvaluate the economic reasoning behind a choice. Evaluate effective allocation of resources for the production of goods and services.

The last activity in this unit will draw on everything the students have done so far. Students will develop a sustainable plan for their community in the hypothetical scenario that an influential resource or system leaves their community.

Opening Discussion: Resources That Impact Your Specific Community

(10–15 minutes)

Begin with a discussion about the ramifications of their community without its most influential resource or system. This will be similar to the discussions that occurred earlier in the unit, but by now the students’ conversations should be more sophisticated since they have been familiarized with the case studies from the documentary, the the two models (Community Capitals and 12-Step Recovery), case studies, and more.

Encourage them to draw on these learned examples and concepts as they determine what they think are some of the most influential resources in their community.

NOTE: Students may disagree on what they consider to be the most influential resource or system in their community. Disagreement is fine, the point of this final exercise isn’t to determine which resource or system is the most influential, but rather to develop a plan to address the leaving of any very influential resource or system.

Group Work: Developing a Sustainable Community Plan

(Remainder of class)

Students break off into 4 or 5 groups (they can form their own groups or you can designate the groups) and begin creating a sustainable, community-based plan in the event that an influential resource or system leaves their community. The specifics for what this plan should entail are in a project rubric found in the Teacher Key, which should be distributed to the students before they begin to develop their plans so that they understand what is expected of them.

Below I’ve included a summarized version of what the project should address:

Resource Identification

Identify a vital community resource

Explain why that resource is vital to the community

Develop a Community Plan. Your plan should discuss…

How it addresses / solves issues caused by the resource leaving

If it’s a sustainable / long-term solution (and why)

How it is based on the concepts learned from classwork (case studies, models, etc.)

Presentation & Submission

Students will present their plans at the end of their next class via an oral presentation. This should not take much time away from the creation of the plan; it should really just be a simple summary of what they created.

Though students will have some class time the next day to work on this, they should continue working on this plan for homework.

Students will also submit a written summary of their plan to the teacher after their presentation. As to not take up too much of their in-class plan-development time, this can be completed for homework after the presentation has occurred and submitted the following class.

Students do not need—and indeed, are not encouraged—to emulate any one model or case study to the letter. While these should be influencing the students’ decisions, the students should create their own unique plans.

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